System and method for dynamically tracking and indicating a path of an object

ABSTRACT

A system for dynamically tracking and indicating a path of an object comprises an object position system for generating three-dimensional object position data comprising an object trajectory, a software element for receiving the three-dimensional object position data, the software element also for determining whether the three-dimensional object position data indicates that an object has exceeded a boundary, and a graphics system for displaying the object trajectory.

BACKGROUND

In many televised sporting events, it is desirable to track and displaythe movement of an object. For example, in baseball, it is desirable totrack and display the movement of the baseball so that televisionviewers may observe the flight path of the baseball. Similarapplications exist for other sporting events, such as basketball,hockey, tennis, etc.

Previous solutions to display an object have utilized image processingtechniques to determine the location of the object, but these systemshave a very limited range and limited accuracy in a targeted area.Typically used for pitch tracking in a baseball application, widecoverage of an entire stadium for real-time hit detection and baseballtracking is not currently possible using such image processingtechniques.

Therefore, there is a need to be able to track, and display in real timethe flight path of a baseball during a live television broadcast.Further, it would be desirable to be able to show other aspects of theobject, such as trajectory, spin, velocity, etc. Finally, it would bedesirable to be able to show estimated object impact points with avirtual home run wall, stadium/stands, and also display the ground whilethe object is still in flight.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the invention include a system for dynamically trackingand indicating a path of an object. The system comprises an objectposition system for generating three-dimensional object position datacomprising an object trajectory, a software element for receiving thethree-dimensional object position data, the software element also fordetermining whether the three-dimensional object position data indicatesthat an object has exceeded a boundary, and a graphics system fordisplaying the object trajectory.

Other embodiments are also provided. Other systems, methods, features,and advantages of the invention will be or become apparent to one withskill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detaileddescription. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods,features, and advantages be included within this description, be withinthe scope of the invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The invention can be better understood with reference to the followingfigures. The components within the figures are not necessarily to scale,emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principlesof the invention. Moreover, in the figures, like reference numeralsdesignate corresponding parts throughout the different views.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a system fordynamically tracking and indicating a path of an object.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart describing the operation of an embodiment of thetracking software of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart describing the operation of an embodiment of thegraphics system of FIG. 1 in a standalone graphics application.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart describing the operation of an embodiment of thegraphics system of FIG. 1, in the situation where a graphic overlay willbe added to an existing broadcast.

FIG. 5 is a graphical illustration showing a rendering of an environmentin which an object is tracked and in which an object trajectory isillustrated.

FIG. 6 is a graphical illustration showing another perspective view ofthe stadium of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The system and method for dynamically tracking and indicating a path ofan object can be implemented in any video broadcast system. The systemand method for dynamically tracking and indicating a path of an objectcan be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of hardwareand software. When implemented in hardware, the system and method fordynamically tracking and indicating a path of an object can beimplemented using specialized hardware elements and logic. When thesystem and method for dynamically tracking and indicating a path of anobject is implemented in software, the software can be used to processvarious system inputs to generate object tracking information. Thesoftware can be stored in a memory and executed by a suitableinstruction execution system (microprocessor). The hardwareimplementation of the system and method for dynamically tracking andindicating a path of an object can include any or a combination of thefollowing technologies, which are all well known in the art: discreteelectronic components, a discrete logic circuit(s) having logic gatesfor implementing logic functions upon data signals, an applicationspecific integrated circuit having appropriate logic gates, aprogrammable gate array(s) (PGA), a field programmable gate array(FPGA), etc.

The software for the system and method for dynamically tracking andindicating a path of an object comprises an ordered listing ofexecutable instructions for implementing logical functions, and can beembodied in any computer-readable medium for use by or in connectionwith an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device, such as acomputer-based system, processor-containing system, or other system thatcan fetch the instructions from the instruction execution system,apparatus, or device and execute the instructions.

In the context of this document, a “computer-readable medium” can be anymeans that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport theprogram for use by or in connection with the instruction executionsystem, apparatus, or device. The computer-readable medium can be, forexample but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical,electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, device,or propagation medium. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) ofthe computer-readable medium would include the following: a portablecomputer diskette (magnetic), a random access memory (RAM), a read-onlymemory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flashmemory) (magnetic), an optical fiber (optical), and a portable compactdisc read-only memory (CDROM) (optical). Note that the computer-readablemedium could even be paper or another suitable medium upon which theprogram is printed, as the program can be electronically captured, viafor instance, optical scanning of the paper or other medium, thencompiled, interpreted or otherwise processed in a suitable manner ifnecessary, and then stored in a computer memory.

While the system and method for dynamically tracking and indicating apath of an object is described herein in the context of tracking andindicating a path of a baseball, the system and method for dynamicallytracking and indicating a path of an object can be used to track andindicate the path of any object.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a system fordynamically tracking and indicating a path of an object. The system 100for dynamically tracking and indicating a path of an object generallyincludes an object position and tracking system 104, processing system107, and a graphics system 300. The processing system 107 can be anygeneral purpose or special purpose computer system, and in anembodiment, can be implemented using a personal computer (PC), laptopcomputer, or other computing device. Generally, the processing system107 comprises a processor 116, a memory 117 and tracking software 200,in omni-directional communication over a bus 118. The processing systemalso includes a database 112 containing three-dimensional data.

The object position and tracking system 104 can be implemented using anumber of different systems, and, in an embodiment, can be implementedas a radar-based system that can detect the position of an object 110.For example purposes only, the object 110 can be a baseball, or othermoving object in a sports event, that is traveling within aradar-observable area, such as a baseball stadium 102. The referencenumeral 108 is intended to refer to either a one-way or a two-way radiofrequency (RF) radar signal that allows the object position and trackingsystem 104 to develop position information relating to the relativeposition of the object 110 in the stadium 102 and with respect to time.

The object position and tracking system 104 also includes a Kalmanfilter 105. As known in the art, a Kalman filter produces estimates ofthe true values of measurements and their associated calculated valuesby predicting a value, estimating the uncertainty of the predictedvalue, and computing a weighted average of the predicted value and themeasured value. The most weight is given to the value with the leastuncertainty. The estimates produced by the method tend to be closer tothe true values than the original measurements because the weightedaverage has a better estimated uncertainty than either of the valuesthat contributed to the weighted average.

The object position and tracking system 104 develops raw trajectory datarelating to the three-dimensional (e.g., the X, Y and Z position of anobject 110 using a Cartesian coordinate system) position of the object110 with respect to time. The object position and tracking system 104provides the raw ball trajectory data to the tracking software 200 overconnection 106. The raw trajectory data can include a variety ofinformation. For example, but not limited to, the raw trajectory datacan be spatial, temporal, confidence, and may contain other ancillarytracking information that describes the position and status of theobject being tracked. The raw trajectory data can be in the form ofascii text, binary data, or any other form of information transferprotocol, or any combination thereof.

In an embodiment, the communication from the object position andtracking system 104 to the tracking software 200 can be done using anavailable interface, such as, for example, Windows CommunicationFoundation. In an embodiment, the object position and tracking system104 notifies the tracking software with events that describe the stateof the object 110. For example, the following states may be communicatedfrom the object position system 104 to the tracking software 200:Idle—The system is ready to track; Hit Detected—The impact between thebat and ball has been sensed; Tracking—The object position and trackingsystem has acquired and locked onto the ball in flight; Track Lost—Theobject position and tracking system has lost track of the ball due tointerference, weak signal, or range; Track Aborted—The user hascancelled tracking of the current hit; Post Processing—Final datasmoothing and spin analysis are being carried out; Saving Data—Data isbeing saved; Track Complete—All tracking processes are finished; Error—Atracking or system error has occurred.

In an embodiment using a baseball as the object 110, the object positionand tracking system 104 is armed and awaiting a pitch. After a pitch issensed, the object position and tracking system 104 checks for areversal of the ball velocity and other metrics to detect if the ball ishit. If it was, the object position and tracking system 104 confirms thereversal of the ball velocity, and then notifies the tracking software200 with a communication packet containing all the accumulated positionpoints for the current trajectory and basic launch data (ball velocity,horizontal/vertical launch angles, and spin velocity). Thereafter, theobject position and tracking system 104 sends position points to thetracking software 200 in real time while the ball is in flight. Thetrajectory ends when the ball is caught or impacts the ground or stands.The entire trajectory is then post-processed to analyze the ball spinduring flight and provide a best-fit smoothed trajectory, which isavailable to the tracking software 200 shortly after the ball lands.

If the ball is tracked with sufficient quality and distance before beinglost, the object position and tracking system 104 provides apredicted/estimated trajectory to the tracking software that can beprocessed as if it were actual data.

The tracking software 200 receives the ball trajectory data from theobject position and tracking system 104, and also receivesthree-dimensional data relating to the stadium 102 from the database112. The “3D Stadium” data can be any collection of three dimensionaldata that represents, in whole or in part, the venue or environment inwhich the object 110 is being tracked. Not limited to the actualgeometry of the venue, this data can be an interpretation or estimationof the venue or environment. The 3D data can comprise, but is notlimited to; point, cloud, vertex, polygonal, voxel, textural data, etc.Two dimensional (2D) data that can be interpreted as 3D data (e.g., andimage based displacement, normal, or depth maps) are also valid forms ofdata that can be used to describe the “3D Stadium”

The tracking software 200 includes a collision detection module 210 anda tracking confidence and analysis module 220, which are inbidirectional communication over connection 215. The 3D stadium modeldata is provided over connection 114 to the collision detection module210. The tracking software 200 provides ball trajectory and associateddata over connection 118 to a graphics system 300.

The tracking software 200 receives the raw trajectory data from theobject position and tracking system 104 and converts the raw trajectorydata into a form that the graphics system can use. The raw trajectorydata can be converted into any data type that the graphics system 300can interpret (e.g., ascii text, binary, or other information transferprotocol, or any combination thereof). The converted data can include,but is not limited to, positional, rotational, temporal, departureangle, maximum height, predicted landing point and like data for theobject 110 being tracked. The tracking software 200 also monitors thestate of the object position and tracking system 104 and can display thestate of the object position and tracking system 104 to an operator overa monitor 119, or over another monitor. If the object position andtracking system 104 loses track of the object a determination is madewhether the provided predicted/synthesized path should be used or not.If so, the predicted points are provided to the graphics system 300 asif they were actual measurements.

The collision detection module 210 determines whether the object 110 hasbeen impacted, and also determines whether or not the object will exceeda certain point within the stadium 102. In an embodiment, the collisiondetection module 210 determines whether the object has passed aparticular location in the stadium 102. The 3D stadium model provided bythe database 112 allows the tracking software to develop a “virtualcurtain” or a “virtual wall” extending upward from a rear wall of thestadium. The collision detection module 210 can determine whether theobject has passed the “virtual wall” or has impacted within the stadium102. The tracking software 200 performs a three dimensional cross checkof the actual or projected trajectory relative to the “3D Stadium” data.As part of the cross check, the tracking software 200 detects if theactual, or projected, trajectory is at any point coincident with thedata that forms the “3D Stadium”. If the collision detection module 210determines that the actual or projected trajectory is at any pointcoincident with the data that forms the “3D Stadium,” then a collisionor impact event is signaled by the tracking software 200.

The memory 117 can be used to store the trajectories for replays,comparisons, and other analysis.

The tracking confidence analysis module 220 can determine the currentposition of the object in the trajectory provided by the object positiontracking system 104 to determine whether the ball will be a home run.

The object trajectory and associated data provided over connection 118is provided to the graphics system 300. The associated data can be, forexample, signals other than the trajectory data, such as, for example,whether the ball is destined to be a home run (GOING), where the ballhas officially crossed the home run wall (GONE), if the data is notreliable, remove the on-screen graphics (LOSE IT), and a manual overrideto end the on-screen graphics for any reason (ABORT).

An aspect of the tracking software 200 is the ability to monitor thesignals and quality of the trajectory data from the object position andtracking system 104 so that bad or inaccurate graphics are not put toair. If the object position and tracking system 104 loses the object anddoes not have sufficient data to construct a predicted path (or if theoperator physically aborts the tracking), the tracking software sends anabort signal to the graphics system 300, and the trail on the ball isfaded off.

The graphics system 300 includes a three-dimensional (3D) renderingengine 124 and a control board 126. The output of the instrumentedcamera 122 is provided to the 3D rendering engine 124 and to a broadcastsystem 136 over connection 148. The instrumented camera 122 captures afield of vision illustrated using reference to a 146. In an embodiment,the field of vision 146 includes the stadium 102 and the object 110. Thevideo provided over connection 148 is a real-time video feed showing theobject 110 traveling within the stadium 102. The graphics system 300receives object position points in real-time and associated datacontaining status information from the tracking software 200. The statusinformation received form the tracking software 200 indicates whetherthe projected path of the object will result in the object exiting thestadium as a home run, and also indicates when the object has actuallycrossed the virtual wall designating it as an official home run.

The 3D rendering engine 124 develops a three-dimensional rendering ofthe stadium 102, and, in an embodiment, provides over connection 132, astandalone video output with the object tracking trajectory superimposedon the video output. For the standalone video, an instrumented camera122 is used to register and align virtual graphics with the live videofrom the instrumented camera 122. The term “instrumented camera” canrefer to any instrumented camera 122 that may comprise servos, rotaryencoders, linear encoders, motion capture devices, etc. that canestablish the location of the camera relative to the stadium 102 andregister and align virtual graphics with the live video. As an exampleof this application, a colored trail can generated by the 3D renderingengine 124 and applied to the video on connection 148 following theobject to show the object's trajectory. If it is determined by thetracking software 200 that the object is destined to be a home run ball,the colored trail can changed to different colors, e.g., yellow, then togreen when the object actually crossed the virtual wall. In theembodiment, a viewer is shown the object trajectory when the camera iszoomed in on the object and the viewer can't see the back wall of thestadium 102. The graphics provide direct visual feedback when the statusof the object changes in flight.

In an alternative embodiment in which the object tracking trajectory isapplied over another graphic, then the output of the 3-D renderingengine 124 is provided over connection 129 to a control board 126. Thecontrol board 126 develops a graphics output over connection 134 that isprovided to a broadcast system 136. The broadcast system 136 alsoreceives the video output from the instrumented camera 122 overconnection 148. The broadcast system 136 can be any television broadcastsystem as known in the art. The broadcast system 136 includes a graphicsoverlay system 138. The graphics overlay system 138 receives thegraphics output from the control board 126 and provides a video outputwith the object tracking trajectory over connection 142.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart 200 describing the operation of an embodiment ofthe tracking software 200 of FIG. 1. The blocks in the flow chart 200,and in the flowcharts to follow, are shown for example purposes and canbe performed in or out of the order shown.

In block 202 the tracking software 200 receives object trajectory datafrom the object position and tracking system 104. The trajectory datarelates to the three dimensional location of an object with respect totime. In block 204, the tracking software 200, and more particularly,the collision detection module 210, monitors the trajectory data todetermine whether the tracked object has experienced a collision (i.e.,whether a baseball has impacted within a stadium), and whether thetracked object has crossed the virtual wall (i.e., whether a baseballhas exited the stadium 102 in fair territory as a home run).

In block 206, the tracking confidence and analysis module 220 performstracking confidence analysis. As an example, the tracking confidenceanalysis module 220 assesses the trajectory data on connection 106 aseach new trajectory point arrives at an example rate of 60 datapoints/sec. The tracking confidence analysis module 220 considers andassesses object height, distance, and relative position of the objectwithin the estimated trajectory to determine if an “ABORT” signal shouldbe sent. The parameters are adjustable based on the particular objectposition and tracking system 104. For example, most systems will havewhat is essentially a field-of-view. When it is known that the object110 is at the edge of this range, the data will be less reliable, and anoperator can choose to issue the ABORT signal. As an example using abaseball as the object 110 and a particular radar-based object positionand tracking system 104, a set of estimated ball positions are sent overconnection 106 when the object position and tracking system 104 lost theball. If the ball was still ascending, the estimated data was discardedand an ABORT was signaled by the tracking software 200. However, if theball was at least 10% down from its apex, the data were consideredreliable and the ABORT signal was not issued.

In block 208, it is determined whether the tracking data is acceptable,i.e., whether the tracking data indicates an object trajectory thatshould be shown as a video overlay. If the tracking data is notacceptable, then the process returns to block 206. If it is determinedin block 208, that the tracking data is acceptable, then, in block 212,it is determined whether the tracking should be aborted. Reasons toabort tracking include, but are not limited to, a manual override ofotherwise good tracking date for any reason.

If it is determined in block 212 that the tracking should be aborted,then, the process returns to block 204. If however, in block 212 it isdetermined that the tracking data should not be aborted, then, in block214, the tracking software 200 sends the object trajectory andassociated data to the graphics system 300.

In block 216, it is determined whether there is any change in thetracking status. To accomplish this, the tracking confidence analysismodule 220 performs real-time analysis, as described above. If, there isno change in the tracking status, then the process returns to block 214.If however, in block 216 it is determined that there is a change in thetracking status, then, in block 218, updated trajectory statusinformation is sent to the graphics system 300.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart 300 describing the operation of an embodiment ofthe graphics system 300 of FIG. 1 in a standalone graphics application.In block 302, the graphics system 300 receives the ball trajectory andassociated data from the tracking software 200. In block 304, thegraphics system 300 receives camera data from the instrumented camera122. In block 306, the 3D rendering engine 124 generates athree-dimensional rendering of the stadium 102. An example of athree-dimensional rendering of the stadium 102 is show in FIGS. 5 and 6.

In block 308, it is determined whether the desired output is astandalone video output or whether the output is to be combined oroverlaid over another video broadcast. If, it is determined in block 308that this is not a standalone application, then the process proceeds toFIG. 4, to be described below. If however, in block 308 it is determinedthat this is a standalone application, then, in block 312, the graphicssystem 300 registers and aligns the virtual graphics generated by the 3Drendering engine 124 with the live video feed provided by theinstrumented camera 122 over connection 148. In block 314, the graphicssystem 300 renders a three-dimensional video including the trajectoryoverlay.

In block 316 it is determined whether the tracking data for the subjecttrajectory received from the tracking software 200 warrants an indiciachange. An indicia change refers to the manner in which the trajectoryis shown. For example, the color, width of the line, style of the line,or other indicia used to show the trajectory can be changed, based onthe trajectory analysis performed by the tracking confidence analysismodule 220. If, in block 316 it is determined that no indicia change iswarranted, then the process returns to block 314. If however, in block316 it is determined that an indicia change is warranted, then, in block318 the indicia of the trajectory graphic is changed. The indicia changecan be based on the predicted trajectory, the actual trajectory, orother factors, and can be based on whether the object has exceeded aboundary. For example, as will be described below in FIG. 5, and FIG. 6,as a trajectory is developed and analyzed, it is determined whether theobject impacts within a stadium or whether the object could be a homerun ball. If it is determined that the object will be a home run ball,then the indicia, for example the color of the trajectory, can bechanged from, for example, white to yellow to green. If the certainty ofa home run ball exceeds a certain threshold, then the color of thetrajectory can be changed to green, indicating that the object (i.e. thehome run ball), has passed, or will pass the virtual wall.Alternatively, if it is determined that the object has collided withinthe stadium, then the indicia of the object can be changed to illustratethat the object trajectory has terminated.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart 400 describing the operation of an embodiment ofthe graphics system 300 of FIG. 1, in the situation where a graphicoverlay will be added to an existing broadcast. In block 402, if thetrajectory data is determined to be good by the tracking software 200,the graphics system 300 provides a graphics output over connection 134to the broadcast system 136. In block 404, the graphics system 300registers and aligns the virtual graphics generated by the 3D renderingengine 124 with the live video feed provided by the instrumented camera122 over connection 148. In block 406, the graphics system 300 renders athree-dimensional video including the trajectory overlay.

In block 408 it is determined whether the tracking data for the subjecttrajectory received from the tracking software 200 warrants an indiciachange, as described above. If, in block 408 it is determined that noindicia change is warranted, then the process returns to block 406. Ifhowever, in block 408 it is determined that an indicia change iswarranted, then, in block 412 the indicia of the trajectory graphic ischanged, as described above.

FIG. 5 is a graphical illustration 500 showing a rendering of anenvironment in which an object is tracked and in which an objecttrajectory is illustrated. In an exemplary embodiment, the graphicalillustration 500 is shown as a depiction of a baseball stadium 502. Thebaseball stadium 502 includes a field 504 including distance markersfrom home plate 506. The distance markers are overlaid on the field 504as a general reference to illustrate distance from home plate 506.

The graphical illustration 500 also includes a projection of a virtualwall 510. The virtual wall 510 is a three-dimensional rendering thatextends vertically upward from a top of an actual stadium wall,indicating the plane that an object must travel through to be considereda home run ball. A boundary can be considered to be any location on thefield 504, stands (not shown) or virtual wall 510 where the object mayimpact.

The graphical illustration 500 also includes a number of objecttrajectories 508. Although more than one object trajectory 508 is shownin FIG. 5, a typical application will generally show one objecttrajectory at a time. Using baseball as an example, the objecttrajectories 508 are illustrated as baseballs that are hit from homeplate 506. Using trajectory 508-1 as an example, a number of points onthe trajectory 508-1 can be analyzed by the collision detection module210 (FIG. 1) to determine a number of attributes about the trajectory,and about the path of the object (110, FIG. 1) on the trajectory. Forexample, the collision detection module 210 can analyze a previous point514 and a last point 516 on the trajectory 508-1 to determine thelocation of the object 110, the likelihood of the object 110 exceedingthe plane of the virtual wall 510 in fair territory (e.g., whether theobject 110 will be a home run ball), and when the object 110 actuallyexceeds the plane of the virtual wall 510.

FIG. 6 is a graphical illustration 600 showing another perspective viewof the stadium 502 of FIG. 5. The virtual wall 510 is shown in athree-dimensional perspective view as extending upward from the edge ofthe field 504. The trajectory 608-1 illustrates one possible trajectoryof an object 110. The trajectory 608-1 includes trajectory portions608-2, 608-3 and 608-4. Trajectory portion 608-2 illustrates thetrajectory 608-1 at a first time using a fine dotted line. Trajectoryportion 608-2 can be the earlier portion of the trajectory 608-1 wherethe object has initially begun to be tracked. Trajectory portion 608-3is illustrated using a different dotted line pattern to indicate thatthe indicia of the trajectory 608-1 has been changed at point 605 due tothe occurrence of an event, such as when the tracking software 200determines that the likelihood of the object 110 exceeding the boundaryformed by the virtual wall is relatively high. Trajectory portion 608-4is illustrated using still another different dotted line pattern toindicate that the indicia of the trajectory 608-1 has again been changedat point 610 due to the occurrence of another event, such as when thetracking software 200 determines that the object has broken the plane ofthe virtual wall 510. Other indicia, such as line color, line thickness,or other indicia may be used. At the time that the object 110 passespoint 610, the indicia of the trajectory 608-1 can be changed so that aviewer observing the graphic overlay would be informed that the ball isa home run ball.

While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it willbe apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many moreembodiments and implementations are possible that are within the scopeof the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for dynamically tracking and indicatinga path of an object, comprising: an object position system thatgenerates three-dimensional object position data and launch data,wherein the object position data comprises a trajectory of an object,and wherein the launch data comprises a spin velocity of the object; amemory storing a software element; a processor executing the softwareelement to receive the three-dimensional object position data and launchdata and determine, while the object is traveling along the trajectory,whether the three-dimensional object position data indicates that theobject has exceeded a venue boundary, wherein the venue boundary isfixed and predetermined before the processor determines whether theobject has exceeded the venue boundary, the software element furthercomprising a collision detection module to determine if the object hasimpacted within the venue and a tracking confidence analysis module thatdetermines whether to abort displaying the trajectory, wherein theprocessor determines when the object has landed and then postprocessesthe trajectory to analyze the spin velocity and to provide a best-fitsmoothed trajectory, and wherein the best-fit smoothed trajectory isbased on the spin velocity analysis; and a graphics system that displaysthe trajectory and determines whether to display an indicia change ofthe trajectory, based on the trajectory with reference to the venueboundary, wherein the indicia change comprises an altered visual mannerof depicting the full trajectory.
 2. The system of claim 1, in which thecollision detection module analyzes a plurality of positions on thetrajectory to determine whether the object has exceeded thepredetermined and fixed venue boundary.
 3. The system of claim 1, inwhich the display of the trajectory comprises altering a visualindication of the trajectory.
 4. The system of claim 3, in which thevisual indication of the trajectory is altered before the object hasexceeded the predetermined and fixed venue boundary.
 5. The system ofclaim 3, in which the visual indication of the trajectory is alteredafter the object has exceeded the predetermined and fixed venueboundary.
 6. The system of claim 1, in which the venue boundarycorresponds to a three dimensional representation of a venue.
 7. Thesystem of claim 1, in which the predetermined and fixed venue boundaryis a virtual wall within a venue.
 8. A method for dynamically trackingand indicating a path of an object, comprising: generatingthree-dimensional object position data comprising a trajectory of anobject and launch data, wherein the object position data comprises atrajectory of an object, and wherein the launch data comprises a spinvelocity of the object; receiving the three-dimensional object positiondata and launch data; determining, while the object is traveling alongthe trajectory, whether the three-dimensional object position dataindicates that the object has exceeded a venue boundary, wherein thevenue boundary is fixed and predetermined before the processordetermines whether the object has exceeded the venue boundary, andwhether the object has impacted within the venue; determining whether toabort displaying the trajectory, and if not, displaying the trajectory,and determining whether to display an indicia change of the trajectory,based on the trajectory with reference to the venue boundary, whereinthe indicia change comprises an altered visual manner of depicting thefull trajectory; and determining when the object has landed and thenpost-processing the trajectory to analyze the spin velocity and toprovide a best-fit smoothed trajectory, wherein the best-fit smoothedtrajectory is based on the spin velocity analysis.
 9. The method ofclaim 8, further comprising analyzing a plurality of positions on thetrajectory to determine whether the object has exceeded thepredetermined and fixed venue boundary.
 10. The method of claim 8,further comprising altering a visual indication of the trajectory. 11.The method of claim 10, further comprising altering the visualindication of the trajectory before the object has exceeded thepredetermined and fixed venue boundary.
 12. The method of claim 10,further comprising altering the visual indication of the trajectoryafter the object has exceeded the predetermined and fixed venueboundary.
 13. A system for dynamically tracking and indicating a path ofa baseball, comprising: an object position system that generatesthree-dimensional object position data and launch data, wherein theobject position data comprises a trajectory of a baseball in flight, andwherein the launch data comprises a spin velocity of the baseball; amemory storing a software element; a processor executing the softwareelement to receive the three-dimensional object position data and launchdata and determine, while the baseball is traveling along thetrajectory, whether the three-dimensional object position data indicatesthat the baseball has exceeded a venue boundary, wherein the venueboundary is fixed and predetermined before the processor determineswhether the object has exceeded the venue boundary, the software elementfurther comprising a collision detection module to determine if thebaseball has impacted within the venue and a tracking confidenceanalysis module that determines whether to abort displaying thetrajectory, wherein the processor determines when the baseball haslanded and then postprocesses the trajectory to analyze the spinvelocity and to provide a best-fit smoothed trajectory, and wherein thebest-fit smoothed trajectory is based on the spin velocity analysis; anda graphics system that displays the trajectory and determines whether todisplay an indicia change of the trajectory, based on the trajectorywith reference to the venue boundary, wherein the indicia changecomprises an altered visual manner of depicting the full trajectory. 14.The system of claim 13, in which the collision detection module analyzesa plurality of positions on the trajectory to determine whether thebaseball has exceeded the predetermined and fixed venue boundary. 15.The system of claim 13, in which the display of the trajectory comprisesaltering a visual indication of the trajectory.
 16. The system of claim13, in which the visual indication of the trajectory is altered beforethe baseball has exceeded the predetermined and fixed venue boundary.17. The system of claim 13, in which the visual indication of thetrajectory is altered after the baseball has exceeded the predeterminedand fixed venue boundary.